Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Energy poverty is now at its highest recorded rate - that’s according to a new report from the ESRI. Joining Newstalk Breakfast this morning for more on this was Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics at UCD School of Economics and UCD Energy Institute and Pippa Hackett,, Minister of State of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Restoring native predator mammal populations, including reintroducing the lynx to Europe and even Ireland, could help to keep in check the most problematic invasive species around the world, according to a study led by Queen’s University Belfast and Cornell University in the US. Wildlife expert and author Eanna Ní Lamhna spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

Ministers at the Cabinet subcommittee on Ukraine this week discussed plans to build hundreds of modular homes to house Ukrainian refugees. To discuss modular housing and whether or not it could be a solution to the housing crisis, Ciara spoke to Financial Adviser and Analyst, Karl Deeter.

Energy poverty is now at its highest recorded rate that’s according to a new report from the ESRI. Joining Shane was one of the authors of the report, Dr. Barra Roantree.

The average waiting time for patients accessing emergency departments last month was over 11 hours, according to new figures. Mercy University Hospital in Cork was the highest in the country, with an average wait time of nearly 22 hours. So why do waiting times remain so stubbornly high? Priscilla Lynch is Clinical Editor with the Medical Independent spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Whale watching, hot tub tours and kayaking by moonlight these are just some of theoutdoor activities available to staycationers this summer

A cross-party group of Ukrainian MPs have praised Ireland’s response to the war in Ukraine and urged the Government to support their effort to join the European Union in an address to the Seanad yesterday MP Lesia Vaslyenko spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins has stated that the housing crisis the country has been battling, is no longer a crisis, ‘it’s a disaster.’ Speaking at a visit at the Jigginstown Manor yesterday, the President expressed his rage at the ongoing crisis. Has the president overstepped the mark with these comments? Senator, Former Tanaiste and Minister For Justice, Michael McDowell gave his reaction to the President's speech.

Two EU committees have objected to a contentious proposal to label gas and nuclear power as sustainable sources of energy. The proposal divided Irish MEPs with Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil MEP voting in favour and Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan voting against who both joined us on the show.

Now BBQs and garden parties could be on the cards this Friday as temperatures are set to hit 26 degrees. But did you ever wonder what goes into forecasting the weather, something we are guilty of complaining about. We sent our reporter Josh Crosbie out to Met Éireann Headquarters to find out exactly that.

Cannabis users are being warned that some products they are buying are being sprayed with toxic synthetic versions of the drug, posing greater health risks. So warned the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction yesterday. Michael Guerin is a Senior Addiction Therapist at Charity Organisation Cuan Mhuire who spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

The Government announced plans yesterday to replace the current minimum wage of €10.50 per hour with a new 'living wage', to be phased in over four years from 2023. But does the Governments living wage place go far enough? To discuss Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Dr Laura Bambrick, Head of Social Policy and Employment Affairs at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

The HSE has announced that the emergency department will close at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan. It will be replaced by a GP referred 24-hour medical assessment unit and an injury unit. The intensive care unit will also close under the plan. Dr. Colm Henry Chief Clinical Officer, Health Service Executive spoke to Shane on the show.

Department of housing, local government and heritage officials will appeal before the Oireachtas Climate Committee today to discuss biodiversity. Rewilding is a strategy used to promote biodiversity by reintroducing plant and animal species that have been driven out, largely due to humans. Is it time the government allowed all empty public spaces in Ireland to be rewilded? Padraic Fogarty, Campaign Officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust spoke with Ciara on the show.

It will now cost €750 more this year to fuel a petrol car than the annual fuel cost last year, according to the latest survey from AA Ireland. Earlier this week, junior minister Robert Troy said that he traveled on free public transport in Luxembourg, adding that Ireland should move towards making public transport free. Would this actually work? Brian Caulfield Associate Professor School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

British ministers would be empowered to override the Northern Ireland protocol almost in its entirety under legislation introduced at Westminster yesterday evening. Ciara spoke to Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney late last night and started by asking him about his reaction to this move by Westminster.

Instead of pumping money into daycare, the government should give vouchers directly to parents which could be put towards the cost of crèches or make it easier for one of them to stay at home with the children. That’s the view of David Quinn, Columnist with the Sunday Times and Director of the Iona Institute and he spoke to Shane this morning.

Ryanair cabin staff in Spain have announced six dates for strike action. How will it impact Irish holidaymakers? Joan Scales is Editor of Travel2Ireland and Travel Times joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

New figures show that over 20 tenants in one local authority area owe more than €20,000 each in rent arrears. Tenants are now set to face the courts as new figures show that total rent arrears owed to South Dublin County Council (SDCC) add up to over €9.16m. Fine Gael Cllr David McManus joined Ciara on the show.

Irresponsible and reckless – that's how business bodies have described the move by the British Government to publish a bill to change the Northern Ireland protocol. John McGrane is Director General of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and he spoke to Shane on the show.